Encouraging youngsters to take up careers in the print industry is vital for its long-term health, so are you doing your bit? Terry Watts, chief executive of Proskills, the Sector Skills Council for the process and manufacturing sector (which covers the print industry), explains why we must pull together.
What could print companies be doing to help encourage new blood?
It seems that print is an industry that does not recognise its urgent need of new blood, but it assuredly does need it. It is a difficult economic time but a crucial one for business development so, aside from the fact that many printers might have considered themselves far too busy simply surviving in recent years, why is the industry reacting so sluggishly to the opportunities that young blood can bring?
Technology has led to improvements in all areas of the industry but to make the most of it and to seize future opportunities in a competitive global market the industry needs suitably skilled staff in all areas of the business.
The real problem is encouraging people to understand the value and the business benefits of employing younger staff - be that an apprentice or a graduate - but also encouraging youngsters to consider the print industry as a career.
A career in the print industry has a great deal to offer - from print production all the way through to management, graphic design, marketing, sales and IT specialists. It’s about finding the print managers of tomorrow, how to attract them into the industry and retain them.
This is crucial to building the UK print industry’s long-term future. The print industry is a long-established part of Britain’s business landscape, and has played a major part in social and economic development; however, it still needs to evolve in line with wider commercial changes if it is to maintain its status.
The problem with getting youngsters to consider the print industry as a career is that as a sector print is quite parochial and tends to highlight the production part of the business when the operations side is just as important.
The benefits of apprenticeships for both the apprentice and employer, for their work-based training programmes which are designed around employer needs, have been a preferred choice in the print industry in taking on new talent and training the workforce.
But aside from apprenticeships, what can companies do to entice the wider workforce? How do we appeal to the so called Playstation generation while they are still at an impressionable age and how do we change the mindset of those who don’t envisage a future in print for the things it has to offer.
Print companies need to step forward and play an active role. Making a change can only be achieved by involvement, passion and vision.
Part of the problem is that even if print companies might be willing to get involved they don’t know how to go about it.
People think it’s incredibly complex to put ideas into motion but it does not have to be if they work through the Sector Skills Council. Also, training providers are now much better than they have ever been before; they’re more responsive and understanding of the needs of printing companies.
The Schools into Industry programme PrintIt! aims to raise young learners’ interest and knowledge of the print and paper industry and offers students the opportunity to ‘twin’ with local employers to gain real insight and experience of the industry. In its seven years PrintIt! blood donors has engaged with nearly 124,000 students and has proven that a small amount of time from employers can really influence student’s career options and open avenues to them that they haven’t yet explored.
Also, most colleges and universities have career boards and career advisors where there is abundant amount information available to students but also scope for employers to offer experience and or employment.
Employers can register their interest by getting in touch with local colleges and universities and explain they are willing to offer experience to marketing, finance, IT or other relevant students. The amount of time is at the employer’s discretion, whether you choose a week, summer internship or a gap year and generally for the former options students would be willing to do this without pay in order to achieve much needed experience.
You never know, you may just find the right person for you with new ideas and fresh thinking that could be the key in driving your business forward.
If you would like more information or need help on ways you can get involved contact Proskills on 01235 833 844 or email the CEO: Terry.Watts@proskills.co.uk